Imagine the sound of listening to your favorite band on headphones while halfway between the 23rd floor and the ground via the balcony and you may have just a fraction of an idea of what it is to hear The Prids bashing out articulate, gloomy post-punk in some dark club, some late night, in some lame town.
Until the World is Beautiful is a follow up to the band's 2003 debut LP, Love Zero. Nailing down the heart-bursting experience of a Prids' live show, the band's latest record is an exponential build on all the things David Frederickson (vocals, guitar, pompadour) and Mistina Keith (bass, vocals, tough-as-nails) have been affected by in rock 'n' roll - music that is drunk on sadness, finds beauty in letting go, and keeps hope alive when things fall apart. Built on the foundations of obscure British post-punk (The Sound, early Wire, Comsat Angels), Until the World is Beautiful hits square in the chest. Seething keyboards, chiming guitars, fuzzed-out, melodic basslines, and hushed guy/girl vocals all buzz together to tug at the deeper roots of loss and living as hard as possible.
The story of The Prids goes like this...David found salvation after hearing Louder Than Bombs at one of the houses he used to crash at when he was just another messed up teenager kicked onto the street by his folks and mixed up in drugs and petty crime. He starts writing songs and playing guitar almost immediately. Later, Mistina sees David lead a so-so pop band through a set of songs at a house show in Missouri in the mid '90s. Without ever picking up an instrument in her life, she convinces him that he should ditch those losers, walk hand-in-hand to the nearest pawnshop, buy cheap guitars and start a band. In another decade, instead of forming The Prids, David and Mistina would have boosted a car and left a wake of knocked-over banks from there across the dustbowl.
They bounce around the backwaters of Midwest scenes - Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, and Saint Joseph, Missouri - before landing in Portland, Oregon in the late '90s.
Somewhere in between, David and Mistina fell in love, got married and got divorced. They still live together in a sprawling, isolated house (referred to as either 'The Compound' or, less seriously, 'Castle Sadmore' by the same wide-eyed fans that sell out clubs and choke the band's myspace site) surrounded by mud and trees and bursting with gear, obscure British post-punk vinyl, Kurt Vonnegut paperbacks and Morrissey posters.
Unlike the majority of bands on the scene, The Prids have never been a weekend project in the way that Van Gogh or Hemingway were never weekend hobbyists. While middle class trustfund bands were contemplating their next hairstyle in the suburbs, Mistina and David were giving each other prison-style Prids' tattoos with sewing needles. While other bands start as a way to kill time before getting accepted to the right grad schools, David and Mistina - neither of whom bothered with college or even graduating high school - are in this for life.
If you don't hear this just below the surface of Until the World is Beautiful - a poignant, loud album by a band tearfully aware that there will always be something equally brutal and beautiful about life - you aren't listening.
October 8, 2008 - Coming soon: a tribute record to benefit The Prids
five03 has called upon friends of The Prids to come together and celebrate their music by doing a tribute record to them! All proceeds from this release will go directly to The Prids to offset costs generated by their recent accident. Loads of bands including Built To Spill, A Place To Bury Strangers, The Upsidedown and more will be contributing tracks for a December release... stay tuned!
July 25, 2008 - The Prids - Horrible accident while on tour
The Prids were in a serious accident while on tour in California on Sunday (details at theprids.com). The entire group came out alive but badly shaken and injured. They now have huge mounting hospital bills as well as the need for a new van and potentially new equipment.
A paypal account has been set up to allow anyone who can to send money to the band. If you can't help out monetarily, please repost whatever info you can into your myspace pages, blogs, etc...
five03 Records is going to be sending the latest Prids EP "Something Difficult" to everyone who donates $50 or more to the band.
There are some other plans in the works as well...
Please click here to send money directly to The Prids. If you have problems with the link, go to the band's website (theprids.com) and click on the 'donate' button on their homepage.
February 28, 2008 - West Coast Tourdates
The Prids will be doing a few shows down the West Coast...check out their tourdates section for info.
December 15, 2007 - Writing for new album and tour planning
The Prids are currently tucked away writing new material for an upcoming album as well as booking dates on the West Coast for March '08 and Europe in Summer '08. Stay tuned!
September 1, 2007 - New Prids EP available for PRE-ORDER!
The new EP from The Prids is now available for pre-order in the five03 store!
August 17, 2007 - New Prids' EP
Something Difficult - 4 new songs by The Prids (including a Guided By Voices cover) will be out next month!
May 3, 2007 - Prids Summer Tour
This coming July finds our unshakeable Prids touring the West Coast and Midwest. Dates coming soon!
March 26, 2007 - The Prids on iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody!
You can now download the Until the World Is Beautiful CD from iTunes, eMusic and Rhapsody!
July 16, 2006 - New album and tourdates with Built To Spill
The Prids have just confirmed two more weeks of their tour in support of Built to Spill.
The Prids' new album Until the World is Beautiful hits stores August 29th, but it is rumored to be available at their live shows. I guess you'll have to go see them to find out.
May 12, 2006 - New album from The Prids
The rumors are true; the new album from The Prids is scorching and set to amaze. Until the World is Beautiful moves with motivating beats, an empathetic voice and melodies that shake something awake inside. The vibrant and fresh sounds of The Prids will brighten any of your hazy mornings, dance you through any slowing afternoon and expose your dark nights to a new energy.
The Prids will be on tour throughout the U.S. July through September.
12/06/08 - Sat :
Portland, OR
The Know with The Estranged and Spider Test
01/03/09 - Sat :
Portland, OR
Doug Fir with Lookbook and Mint Chicks
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Something Difficult EP Released: 09/11/07 (five03) Preview/BUY |
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...Until the World Is Beautiful CD Released: 08/29/06 (five03) Preview/Buy |
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Love Zero CD Released: 2003 (Luminal) Reissued: 04/10/07 (This-A-Way) |
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Let It Go 7" Released: 2004 (Luminal) |
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Shadow and Shadow 7" Released: 2004 (Luminal) |
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Glide, Screamer EP Released: 2002 (Death Tech) |
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Duracraft EP Released: 2000 (Death Tech) |
[JPG]
Something Difficult CD Cover Art (300dpi)
[JPG] ...Until
the World Is Beautiful CD Cover Art (300dpi)
[JPG] The Prids Press
Photo (72dpi)
[MOV]
"Let It Go" video
[EPK] The Prids Electronic Press Kit
Please contact five03 for EPK access.
EPK has hi-rez press photo and cover art more suitable for printing.
